Football transfers: Is there another way? Or would we miss them too much?

I'm quite in agreement with the main thrust of the proposed solution in this BBC Article

De Preter believes that "the entire transfer system is a complete nonsense", and advocates abolishing transfer fees entirely - "as soon as possible, to make the business totally clear".

His alternative model would essentially see every player assigned a release clause, which would be determined by a third party - perhaps a governing body, or a special tribunal. The value would be based on various factors, including age, performances and potential - and everyone would be able to find out what it is.

"If you wanted to leave a club, you would have to give notice, like a normal employee, and then there would be this termination fee," De Preter explains.

"Then, it is up to the player to choose the club that is most interesting to him. It may be the club that pays him the most, the best sporting option, or maybe he would choose the best quality of life.

"You have just an employee who changes jobs because he wants to go somewhere else."

The whole thing is a shambles. Fees for bang average players have gone through the roof. The two artificial windows create panic situations where clubs feel they have to pay over the odds. We are as much to blame. On minute we are saying the market has gone mad, then we are saying pay over the odds for Virgil and you can have him. Something needs to be done about the contracts. I have no problem with players moving, and lets face it, it is in the club's interest to sell if they either want rid or to raise some cash, but it needs better regulation. For example, if you just sign a long contract you must expect to see out a minimum period before putting in a transfer request. Keep the widow open as it used to be, until March was it, so that you dont get this feeding frenzy. Something needs to be done about wages too.

Why does it matter how large a fee one club pays to another club? Money going out the game, to fkn agents or wages or whatever is an annoyance & is corellated to the cost of Fandom, money circulating round between clubs doesn't do any actual harm, does it?

"His alternative model would essentially see every player assigned a release clause, which would be determined by a third party - perhaps a governing body, or a special tribunal. The value would be based on various factors, including age, performances and potential - and everyone would be able to find out what it is."

Unless it was Artificial Intelligence that determined value, I would take issue with this. It would do exactly the same as transfer fees, and price smaller clubs out and ensure that the status quo elite clubs could have their pick of the players.

It is like the old school Fifa and Pro Evo games... whoever assigned the skills and attributes was having a fucking laugh. When I was a kid I remember David Beckham used to have better heading ability than James Beattie and every Man Utd player was simply made quicker than all of our players.

My point is that it is impossible for the release clauses to be determined 100% objectively and there is always going to exist bias and in turn corruption to some level. It it totally subjective. Equally, how often would the release clauses be reviewed?

Take VVD for example... Liverpool were interested in him when he was at Celtic but their scouts told Rogers "Nah, he ain't for us right now". So his release clause would be set upon signing the contract presumably, yet all of a sudden 18 months later he is in demand and considered the best player in his position in the Premier League. Has his release clause changed to reflect this?

The best thing for the game would be a not for profit organisation or players union to replace agents... or a PFA if you will... wait...

How about hiring players on an agreed performance basis e.g so many goals, so many passes completed, assists, shots stopped etc. Give them a basic wage and reward them at the end of the season with a bonus paid depending on whether they hit their performance indicators?

Likewise if a player wants to move the above applies but the fee for the selling club is based on a similar basis I.e if the player performs and hits target then an agreed fee is paid, if not then the fee is reduced.

If the player wants to move and acts like VvD then he forfeits his bonus as he hasn't hit his agreed performance targets. There are lots of holes in this I'm sure, but I don't do detail but if anything it'll ensure that the players will give 100% all of the time or they'll loose a significant chunk of income